Author's Note: Just really quickly, I would like to ask for reader help. Eco-missions are something I know I will struggle with, and while I will likely not focus ONLY on eco-missions, I am expecting to need 2 or 3 more for this story. I will likely skim over several of them because I do not want to make this story (or its chapters) too long. I am also asking (way in advance for sure) for help with Book 4 of this series which I am writing. I would like to incorporate Zarm into Book 4, near its end. The difficulty with this comes from the fact that I can count the number of episodes featuring Zarm on one hand. Zarm would actually be the perfect villain for one scene, but I don't really know how to structure it.
And now, please enjoy the pilot chapter of A New Life, A New Planeteer: A New Beginning!
It all started on a seemingly normal day – October 16, 2006, a Monday. I had spent the entire day at school, as most high school sophomores do. I was taking mostly advanced placement classes at the time, something I had opted to do simply because I had never turned down a challenge, and when my teachers had recommended I take those classes the year before, I just couldn't refuse. Of course, it did come with its downsides. Homework. Loads of it. On the bus ride home, all I could think about was how much homework I had to do that night, how much time it was going to take, and how much time I was going to have left over that night to goof around. After spending all weekend working on a project for history class, I could use a break, and it sounded like my homework was only going to take about two and a half hours- a bargain for someone loaded up with AP courses. Most likely I would have about fifteen minutes before my half-brother, Mattie, and half-sister, Sierra, got home from their second and fourth grade classes, respectively, and I wanted to take full advantage of it.
The bus pulled up down the street from my house and I said goodbye to my bus driver, a wonderful woman we all called Miss Cheryl. I moved swiftly toward my house, wanting only to get home and finish my homework as quickly as possible so I could work on a video game I had been playing. I had almost achieved a one hundred percent ranking on the game and I was really excited to finish. I had a feeling deep down inside that today was going to be my day of glory as I turned the doorknob and entered my house.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I looked in the living room. Sitting in the chair, having what appeared to be a very serious conversation with my parents, was Captain Planet.
I was completely shocked to see him in my home. I had never expected that one day I might meet him in person. While other kids were fans of Spiderman or Batman or Superman, my childhood superhero had been Captain Planet. I had followed the adventures of the Planeteers for many years, and had idolized them because even though they weren't adults, they were still saving the Earth.
"Welcome home, Jennie," my mom, said softly, an unusual look on her face as she held my three year old half-brother, James. Was it concern? Fear? A mixture of both? I wasn't sure, but I was suddenly filled with a feeling that my life was never going to be the same again.
"Captain Planet, this is our daughter Jennifer," my step-father said, a slightly strained tone to his usually monotone voice. The blue skinned man stood in response to my entrance, a smile on his face. He strode over to me and took one of my hands in both of his.
"Hello, Jennifer. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said in the voice that had thrilled me as a child.
"I- the pleasure is all mine, I'm sure," I murmured, stunned by this recognition from my hero.
"I'm sure you must be wondering why I'm here," Captain Planet said, escorting me to a chair near his before sitting down himself. "Your parents told me that you are a big fan of the Planeteers and what we do. What you may not know is that Wheeler and Linka were married about two years ago. Linka is now expecting a baby, and we need someone to come in as a temporary substitute Planeteer."
It took a moment for the meaning of his words to sink in. "Wait a minute… are you asking me…?" I stammered incredulously.
Cap chuckled lightly at my surprise. "Yes, Jennifer, we would like to ask you to come in and serve on the team in Linka's place. This would only be a temporary assignment; only about a year or so. We need someone to come in and fill the position only long enough for Linka to have her baby and then recover."
"What about afterward? How would she be able to go on missions and leave the baby behind?" my mother asked in surprise.
"Gaia has said she would watch the child for now. Eventually, we hope to find someone to come live on the island permanently, as someone who could be either a substitute for a sick Planeteer or as a babysitter when off duty. Most of the people we have found who could fill our current needs are too young to accept a permanent position, and the older ones are in positions they seem unwilling to leave. So in the end, it was agreed that for now, we would accept our best option for a temporary Planeteer. And by this, of course, I am referring to your daughter, Jennifer," he replied easily.
"Please, call me Jennie," I said a little absent-mindedly.
"Especially considering this would only be a temporary assignment, Gaia and I felt it important to approach you and speak with you and your family to determine if this was a challenge you'd be willing to face," Captain Planet explained, triggering something in my brain. "The choice is yours, Jennie. And please, call me Cap."
I thought for a moment, trying to decide on a response. I had never turned away a challenge; that was why I was in all AP classes to begin with. I felt a deep stirring in my heart, as if something within me was trying to rise up and accept the job whether I wanted to yet or not.
At that moment, the door opened. "Mom, Dad, we're home," Sierra called as she and Mattie entered the house. My step-dad rose to meet them with hugs and kisses and took them into the kitchen to grab a snack before starting them on their homework as I turned back to Cap, who had almost miraculously managed to go unnoticed by the two youngsters.
"May I have some time to talk to my parents before giving you my answer?" I asked him. Cap smiled and nodded his agreement.
"I will excuse myself and return shortly for your answer," he answered, stepping into the kitchen to the surprised shouts of my brother and sister. A moment later my step-father returned.
"He said he would watch them so that we could discuss this proposition together," he explained simply, taking his seat next to my mother.
"Honestly, Michael, I don't really see much to discuss," my mother responded, turning to her husband. "It's far too dangerous! How could we even consider-"
"Now, Samantha," he interrupted calmly, "Jennifer is a grown up girl now. It's not really our place to be making that decision for her."
"But Michael, she's just a child!"
"She is almost 16 years old now. She is in high school. You and I agreed months ago that we would support her no matter what she chose to do with her life," he reminded her, looking at me with a gentle, affectionate smile. "I think we should see what Jennie's wishes are before we discuss this any further, don't you?"
"I suppose so," my mother agreed with a sigh, turning to me. "Jennie, you don't really want to do this, do you?"
"Samantha!" my step-father exclaimed in disbelief, staring at my mother in shock. My mother didn't respond, just pressed her lips tighter together and held my little brother James tighter, which caused him to finally squirm hard enough to escape her grasp and run into the kitchen after Cap.
My step-dad looked back at me. "Jennie, I want to know what you think about this opportunity. It wouldn't be easy, and there may even be some danger involved, but your mother and I both know that you've never been one to turn down a challenge. Do you think that this is something that you would like to pursue?"
I thought over everything that had been said. I certainly knew that this would be one of the hardest tasks I would ever undertake if I indeed chose to go. But above all feelings I or my parents might have on the matter, what it really boiled down to for me was that, out of billions of options around the world, they chose ME. They asked ME. Cap, Gaia, Kwame, Ma-Ti, Gi, Wheeler, and Linka; my childhood heroes were asking ME to come and help them, and if they believed I had what it would take to fill and succeed in such a role, then who was I to tell them they were wrong? To top it all off, I really did try to be eco-friendly in as many ways as possible for a youth of my age, and I wanted to learn more about it. If I didn't do everything I could to make sure the future Earth was a better place for my siblings and our descendants, who could I count on to do that instead?
"I want to go," I said quietly. My step-father smiled, both proudly and a little sadly, I thought, but my mother appeared stricken. "Mom, I can't turn this down. The Planeteers have put their faith in me. I am certain I could make special arrangements with the school to do my classes by correspondence. Think of all I could learn! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with people who are really making a difference in the world, and I have an opportunity to be a part of that!" My speech grew more impassioned and excited as I continued speaking, listing off many reasons, including those aforementioned, as I attempted to bring my mother around. I could feel my eyes shining in excited anticipation, begging her mentally to agree to my going, and finally she held up her hand with a rueful chuckle.
"I can see when I'm beat," she admitted. "I still have my reservations, but you've made a number of good points. This is truly an opportunity where you can really make a difference, and I know that's all you've ever wanted to do with your life. I will miss you, but I will agree to your going on a few conditions, and Michael, I would like you to tell me your thoughts as far as fairness goes." She took in a deep breath. "Condition number 1: you obviously have to finish school. I'm guessing it would probably take at least a few weeks for the school district to make the arrangements necessary to do as you say. You may accept the assignment, but you may not leave until you have assurance from the school that you will be allowed to do the distance learning as you have suggested."
"I agree there," my step-father agreed, and I nodded my agreement to that condition.
"Condition number 2: You must keep in touch. I want to hear from you every day to know that you are alive and well. You can Skype us, call us, text us, whatever form of contact you wish, but I want to hear from you often. No matter where you go, what you do, you are still my daughter, and I will worry sick if I don't know how you are doing."
"I will set aside 30 minutes of time every day," I promised, "but you have to try not to worry if I am unable to do it at a usual time. I could get called away on a mission at any time, and I certainly don't want to text you before a mission because I know you'd worry yourself to death till you knew I got back."
"I can't promise that, Jennie. A mother worries," my mother replied with a soft, sad smile. "You are all I have left of David, and as much as I love Michael, it might kill me to lose you." I moved over next to my mother and hugged her close, sitting beside her as my step-father leaned over to kiss her. He had always been understanding of the fact that my mother would always love her first husband and my father, and had never felt threatened by her occasional references to him.
Mother cleared her throat and dried her eyes. "I do have a third condition." She paused a moment to make sure she had my full attention before continuing. "You have to promise me that, if at any time, you feel like things aren't working out, you will come back home. I've gotten to know you pretty well these last 16 years, since even before you were born, and you've always been stubborn and unwilling to give up on anything. Please, especially considering the danger factor, don't do that here. If it's not working out, you could end up seriously hurt, or worse. Promise me you'll be careful and know when enough is enough."
"I promise, Mom. If things are looking like they're too much for me to handle, I will come home," I agreed.
She hugged me tighter before releasing me and saying, "Well then, I guess we'd better get Captain Planet so you can tell him your decision… and start getting ready to go."
Chapter 2 should be up in a week or two. Please be patient with me though; I just got a new job as a special education aide at a local high school, so updates could end up being few and far between during the main parts of the school year.
As always, constructive criticism is appreciated, flames are not. Please drop a review on your way out and always remember... THE POWER IS YOURS!
